Apparatus and methods for conveying objects
Disclosed are conveyors and methods for making the conveyors. In one embodiment, a conveyor comprises a modular conveyor belt that includes a plurality of mat-top chains having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of first rollers disposed in the cavities of the mat-top chains. The conveyor further includes at least one second roller that operatively couples to the first rollers such that the first rollers rotate as the conveyor belt travels along the second roller. The invention can also be construed as providing the method for conveying objects. The method can comprise the steps of driving a modular conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel; rotating a plurality of first rollers disposed into the modular conveyor belt in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced; and conveying objects on the modular conveyor belt using the rotating first rollers.
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This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. utility patent application entitled, “Apparatus and Methods for Conveying Objects,” having Ser. No. 11/260,803, filed Oct. 27, 2005; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/719,805, filed Nov. 21, 2003, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,941. All these applications are entirely incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention generally relates to power-driven conveyors.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTSwitch conveyors have been developed that include a modular conveyor belt that includes rows of rollers. The rollers are disposed in the modular conveyor belt and are angled relative to the direction of travel of the belt such that they can laterally divert objects placed on the belt. The conveyor includes fixed longitudinal wear strips that are located below the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels, the rollers travel along the longitudinal wear strips causing the rollers to rotate for the purpose of diverting objects.
The use of the wear strips to rotate the rollers causes the rollers to slip in that the rollers intermittently slide along the wear strips. Such slippage is undesirable in that it results in inconsistent or inefficient diverting of the objects.
SUMMARYDisclosed are conveyors and methods for conveying objects. In one embodiment, a conveyor comprises a modular conveyor belt that includes a plurality of mat-top chains having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of first rollers disposed in the cavities of the mat-top chains. The conveyor further includes at least one second roller that operatively couples to the first rollers such that the first rollers rotate as the conveyor belt travels along the second roller.
In one embodiment, a method comprises driving a modular conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel; rotating a plurality of first rollers disposed into the modular conveyor belt in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced; and conveying objects on the modular conveyor belt using the rotating first rollers.
The disclosed apparatus and methods can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale.
Disclosed are conveyors and methods for conveying objects that reduce slippage of conveyor rollers. Due to that reduced slippage, the conveyors more effectively divert objects on the conveyor belt. In some embodiments, the conveyor includes first rollers disposed in the conveyor belt and at least one second roller located underneath the conveyor belt that can rotate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt travels along the second roller, the second roller operatively couples with the first rollers causing the first rollers and the second roller to rotate. Because of the rotation of the second roller, the first rollers rotate with reduced slippage.
Referring now in more detail to the figures in which like referenced numerals identifying corresponding parts,
With further reference to
In some embodiments, the second rollers 106 are vertically displaceable, as indicated by arrow 406 in
As described above, the mat-top chain 110 further includes cavities 114 in which the first rollers 104 are disposed and in which the first rollers can rotate. As the conveyor belt 102 travels in direction A, the second rollers 106 can be made to engage the first rollers 104 causing the first rollers to rotate in direction B. The objects on the conveyor belt 102 can therefore be conveyed in a direction C. Notably, the second rollers rotate in direction D.
As is further depicted in
In block 504, first rollers within the conveyor belt are rotated in a manner in which slippage of the first rollers is reduced. For example, as the conveyor belt travels in direction A, the first rollers engage second rollers that are likewise free to rotate.
In block 506, the objects on the conveyor belt 102 are diverted in a second direction using the first rollers. The objects can be displaced towards either the sides or the middle of the conveyor belt.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely possible examples. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure.
Claims
1. A conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor belt advancing in a direction of belt travel and including a plurality of cavities and a plurality of diverting rollers, each diverting roller being disposed in a cavity; and
- a transverse roller located underneath the conveyor belt and configured to operatively couple to at least some of the diverting rollers to cause those diverting rollers to rotate as they trace helical paths on the transverse roller rotating in a direction transverse to the rotational direction of the diverting rollers.
2. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein the diverting rollers have outer rubbers layers and the transverse roller has a urethane outer sleeve engaging the rubber layers of the at least some diverting rollers in high-friction contact with substantially no slip.
3. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein the transverse roller is positioned to rotate substantially perpendicular to the direction of belt travel.
4. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt comprises mat-top chains that include hinge elements that link multiple mat-top chains together to form the conveyor belt.
5. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support members that support the conveyor belt.
6. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein the transverse roller is vertically displaceable toward or away from the conveyor belt, wherein when the transverse roller is displaced toward the conveyor belt to engage the at least some diverting rollers, the transverse roller rotates the at least some diverting rollers.
7. A conveyor as defined in claim 6, wherein the transverse roller is vertically displaced toward or away from the conveyor belt using an air actuator, hydraulic actuator, ball screw actuator, or solenoid actuator.
8. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein rotation of the transverse roller causes the at least some diverting rollers to rotate with reduced slippage.
9. The conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein the diverting rollers are aligned in the cavities at an angle that is different from the direction of belt travel enabling the diverting rollers to convey objects toward the sides or the middle of the conveyor belt.
10. A conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor belt advancing in a direction of belt travel and including a plurality of mat-top chains having a plurality of cavities and a plurality of diverting rollers, each diverting roller being disposed in a cavity of the mat-top chains; and
- transverse rollers located underneath the conveyor belt that operatively couple to the diverting rollers causing the diverting rollers to rotate as they trace helical paths along the transverse rollers and the transverse rollers to rotate in a direction transverse to the rotational direction of the diverting rollers, wherein the rotation of the transverse rollers causes the diverting rollers to rotate with reduced slippage.
11. The conveyor as defined in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of support members that support the conveyor belt.
12. The conveyor as defined in claim 11, wherein the transverse rollers are located between consecutive support members.
13. The conveyor as defined in claim 10, wherein the transverse rollers are positioned to rotate substantially perpendicular to the direction of belt travel.
14. The conveyor as defined in claim 10, wherein the mat-top chains include hinge elements that link multiple mat-top chains together to form the conveyor belt.
15. The conveyor as defined in claim 10, wherein the transverse rollers are vertically displaceable toward or away from the conveyor belt, wherein when the transverse rollers are displaced toward the conveyor belt to engage the diverting rollers, the transverse rollers rotate the diverting rollers.
16. A conveyor as defined in claim 15, wherein the transverse rollers are vertically displaced toward or away from the conveyor belt using an air actuator, hydraulic actuator, ball screw actuator, or solenoid actuator.
17. The conveyor as defined in claim 10, wherein the diverting rollers are aligned in the cavities of the mat-top chains at an angle that is different from the direction of belt travel enabling the diverting rollers to convey objects toward the sides or the middle of the conveyor belt.
18. A method for conveying objects, the method comprising:
- driving a conveyor belt in a direction of belt travel;
- rotating a plurality of diverting rollers disposed in the conveyor belt by engaging the diverting rollers with a transverse roller rotatable in a direction substantially transverse to the rotational direction of the diverting rollers as the diverting rollers trace helical paths on the transverse roller and reduce the slippage of the diverting rollers; and
- conveying objects on the conveyor belt using the rotating diverting rollers.
19. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein rotating the diverting rollers comprises selectively rotating the diverting rollers with a transverse roller.
20. The method as defined in claim 19, wherein selectively rotating the diverting rollers comprises vertically displacing the transverse roller toward the conveyor belt and engaging the diverting rollers, the transverse roller rotating the diverting rollers.
21. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein rotating the diverting rollers comprises rotating the diverting rollers at an angle that is different from the direction of belt travel.
22. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein conveying objects on the conveyor belt comprises conveying objects toward the sides or the middle of the conveyor belt.
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Type: Grant
Filed: May 24, 2007
Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
Patent Publication Number: 20080023301
Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C. (Harahan, LA)
Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney (Laurel, MD)
Primary Examiner: Douglas A Hess
Attorney: James T. Cronvich
Application Number: 11/753,215
International Classification: B65G 17/00 (20060101);